Opportunities for more Vietnamese works to reach Chinese readers

At the event, writer Trinh Bich Ngan, Chairwoman of the Ho Chi Minh City Writers’ Association, shared that according to statistics released by the China National Publications Import and Export Corporation on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the country’s National Day, nearly 150 Vietnamese literary works were translated and published in China during the period from 1949 to 2006. These included renowned Vietnamese classics.

In recent years, Chibooks has facilitated the signing of copyright agreements for numerous modern Vietnamese literary and cultural works to be introduced to Chinese readers, particularly following its partnership agreement on the “Southeast Asian Literature Translation Project” with a well-known Chinese literary publishing house.

According to Nguyen Le Chi, Director of Chibooks, “bringing Vietnamese authors and Vietnamese books to the world” has always been the company’s enduring mission since its establishment.

In addition to organising traditional book exhibitions, the company has signed agreements with the China National Publications Import and Export Corporation to place Chibooks titles on Chinese e-commerce platforms for online sales and broader digital promotion, including at Chinese universities that offer Vietnamese language programmes.

“All these efforts are aimed at enhancing the visibility of Vietnamese books in the Chinese market, where Vietnamese publications remain extremely scarce and readers know very little about Vietnamese literature,” Nguyen Le Chi said.

Since 2023, Chibooks has partnered with the China-ASEAN copyright trade service website, becoming the sole official representative in Viet Nam responsible for selecting and introducing valuable Vietnamese cultural products to the Chinese market, including books and films.

As a result, each year Chibooks has translated and introduced hundreds of valuable and diverse Vietnamese titles from numerous publishing houses to the platform.

In addition, Chibooks has worked closely with the China Writers Association, the Guangdong Provincial Writers Association and the Guangxi Writers Association, among others, to organise multiple exchanges bringing Vietnamese writers to China to meet readers, introduce their works, and participate in thematic discussions.

These activities aim to help Chinese readers gain a deeper understanding of and appreciation for Vietnamese culture.